Windsor Locks Man Facing 40 Years For Robbery After Guilty Verdict

WINDSOR LOCKS, CT — A federal jury has found a Windsor Locks resident guilty of robbery offenses in Hartford County.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, said Friday the jury in New Haven found Geoffrey Shapiro, 44, guilty of committing two robberies in February 2020. The trial before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden began on Jan. 8, and the jury returned its verdict Friday morning.

According to evidence presented during the trial, at about 5:20 p.m. on Feb. 9, 2020, Shapiro entered the Dunkin' Donuts at 142 Hopmeadow St. in Simsbury, placed an order, then displayed a small handgun and pointed it at an employee at the register. Shapiro then told the staffer, "Give me the money" two times and received approximately $390, according to case records.

Shapiro said "thank you," and exited the store, according to case records.

On Feb. 21, 2020, Shapiro entered the Webster Bank branch at 141 Hebron Ave. in Glastonbury. When he reached the teller counter, he handed over a note that stated, in part, "Stay calm" and "I have a gun," according to case records. The teller then gave Shapiro $1,837 from her drawer, Shapiro took back the note and exited the bank, according to case records.

Glastonbury police arrested Shapiro later that day at his residence.

On Feb. 22, 2020, a court-authorized search of Shapiro’s vehicle revealed a handgun, the demand note Shapiro used during the bank robbery, clothes worn by Shapiro during the robberies, and other evidence, Avery said.

Shapiro was found guilty of one count of interference with commerce by robbery, also known as a Hobbs Act robbery, which carries a maximum prison term of 20 years, and one count of armed bank robbery, which also carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, Avery said.

Shapiro is released on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing, which is not scheduled.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Glastonbury, Simsbury, and Westfield (Mass.) Police Departments.